Description

1829 10C Curl Base 2, JR-10, FS-301, R.6, VF30 PCGS. This
problem-free, midgrade circulated example of the 1829 Curl Base 2
dime offers a great deal of remaining eye appeal. Dove-gray and
lilac surfaces on the obverse show tinges of rose and gold amid a
distinct absence of mentionable abrasions. Swatches of burnt orange
decorate the upper reverse. The original patina is accompanied by
some moderate buildup of detritus in the interiors of the 8, 2, and
9 in the date that actually emphasizes the piece's most important
feature: the Curl Base 2. Certified in a green-label holder.

Variety: JR-10, FS-301, R.6. Curl Base 2 on obverse. T1 is
low and AT close on the reverse. Die State: Late. A
prominent die crack bisects the obverse, running from the rim above
star 7 through the upper cap, splitting the I in LIBERTY, across
the face, jawline, before the throat, back onto the bustline before
taking a leftward jaunt back to the rim just below star 1. The die
crack on this piece appears more advanced than on the few other
pieces we have seen -- but frankly there are just too few examples
showing sufficient detail to make any firm conclusions. If the
crack did advance rapidly from the state shown here, obviously it
could help explain the extreme rarity of this die pairing.

Population Data (3/15): PCGS shows the present example in
VF30 and only one VF35 finer. The next finest at PCGS is a Fine 15.
NGC reports six in Good, two in Very Good, and one in Fine.

Heritage Commentary: Even casual collectors of the Capped
Bust dime series are aware, as a rule, of the great rarity of the
1829 Curl Base 2 variety, a noteworthy target of avid cherrypicking
on the bourse and fierce bidding at the auction block. Only the
sole die variety is known with that feature, and the average grade
of certified examples -- the upper end of the pool -- is only VG7.
This variety was ranked R.7 when the "dime book" was published back
in 1984, but a few more examples have surfaced, the meager fruits
of the labor of countless sharp-eyed collectors. Even today we rate
the variety R.6, meaning that no more 30 examples survive in all
grades -- which sounds about right. A nice, wholesome VF30 coin
such as the Gardner Collection example, frankly, puts most
survivors of this variety to shame. An extremely important offering
in this momentous sale, this is the finest example we have had the
privilege to offer since we began our Permanent Auction Archives in
1993.